QUAERITUR: acts of piety during Consecration/Elevation

I wanted to inquire about a pious habit I have acquired from my parents who have acquired it from their parents.

At the Mass, immediately following the words of Consecration when the Host is lifted up, when the bell is wrung thrice we have always struck our breasts once and said silently to ourselves, "Lord I am not worthy to receive you, etc."

Now my knowledge of the rubrics for the Novus Ordo are not exhaustive, but I don’t recall ever reading this. I did, however, recall seeing at a TLM a reference within the Missal explaining that one should say at the elevation: "My Lord and my God." I have also noticed a few ladies and gents over the years with a bit more gray in their hair than the rest also strike their breasts at this moment, but it’s relatively rare. My question is, is this anywhere within the rubrics or merely a pious action that developed over the years, much like the modern holding of hands during the Our Father at Novus Ordo Masses?

Frankly, I think you can do what you want at that moment.

Some people prefer to do nothing external. Many say "My Lord and my God!", echoing St. Thomas the Apostle.

I know that there were directives against the priest who is saying Mass from doing this, but the laity may do as they please.

I have no problem at all with these acts of piety, which are intimately personal and harm no one. In a similar way, if people want to hold hands during Mass, at any time, fine! Just don’t try to compel anyone else to do it. Moreover, people are never to be directed to hold hands.

It would be interesting to know what practices people have for this mysterious moment during Holy Mass.

105 Responses to QUAERITUR: acts of piety during Consecration/Elevation

I use my missal for most of the Mass except at the Consecration/elevation. At that moment, just after father says I believe it is called the epiclesis(the part when he calls down the Holy Spirit and the bell is rung once)?, I put down my missal and pray silently. At the moment the first bell is rung, I make the sign of the cross. Then, when the Host is elevated I strike my breast and pray “My Lord and my God, have mercy on me a sinner” and then I lower my head when father genuflects at the third bell. I repeat all of this for the Consecration of the wine. It is only after the third bell of the Consecration of the wine that I go back to praying my missal. I admit that when I put down the missal my prayers tend to be the same. I keep repeating myself. That is why I like having the missal since it helps to direct my prayer in Mass. Usually the prayers have consisted of begging for Mercy. I wonder is Our Lord gets tired of hearing the same pray from me at every Mass???

Depending upon how long the priest holds the Host up, I say all three: \”My Lord and my God!\” \”My God and my All!\” \”Behold my love! Behold all my love!\”

It\’s interesting, though, that you say priests are specifically forbidden from that. The priest who did our wedding prep., Fr. Mark Moretti (now president of the Blue Army) said that, at Mt. St. Mary\’s, he was told to use that moment to privately renew his vows as a priest (\”Jesus, I want to be your priest\”). He used that as a model for his engaged couples: \”John, I want to be your wife.\” \”Mary, I want to be your husband.\”

He said he had a couple come to him once and say that, while they were eating dinner at a restaurant, the couple at the next to them did it: they said grace and then exchanged those words.
Couple 1 turned to couple 2 and said, \”Fr. Mark??\” and Couple 2 said, \”Yes!\” And they joined tables and became good friends.

I teach my 2nd grade religion students to whisper “My Lord and my God”, although I don’t teach them to strike their breasts (maybe I’ll add that next year). Not only is it what I learned attending the (then) indult Mass, but that is what is suggested in the CCD textbook. The textbook also suggests familiarizing the students with the Pater, Ave, and Gloria Patri in Latin (these prayers are learned in Kindergarten and 1st grade). Perhaps, next year I should also teach this prayer in Latin! :)

At the Consecration of the Host I say “Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,” and then I pray that the Lord will give my descendants the Grace of never committing a mortal sin up to the thousandth generation. At the Consecration of the Cup I pray “Lord Jesus Christ take my body, my blood, and my soul that I may partake of your Divinity.” I also ask for a particular petition as I have read that the best time to ask is at the Consecration.

It is the custom in my parish for all the faithful to make a prostration at the epiclesis, which, in the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, follows the words of institution. In the Liturgy of St. Basil, this occurs at the words “shed for the life of the world.” (The eastern prostration involves dropping to one’s knees and touching one’s forehead to the floor; it is not the full prostration employed in Roman ordinations.)

I say “My Lord and my God.” I used to sing with a schola that sat in choir on either side of the altar, although we didn’t have choir stalls (no room anywhere else in the tiny chapel). Anyone sitting in the front row of the choir bowed to the floor when the priest genuflected after the elevation. I miss being able to do that, but the pew in front of me gets in the way.

At the elevation of Gods Body and Blood in the accident of the host, I pray “My Lord and my God”
At the elevation of Gods Body and Blood in the accident of the wine I pray, “I, a miserable creature offer my nothingness and sinfulness to the Omnipotent Creator of the universe.”

I believe I usually say “My Lord and my God”, but not always. I know I’ve used “Jesus I trust in you” and “Jesus I adore you”. I think I’ve said other things that come to mind depending on the readings or the Gospel, or sometimes “wow!” or just an unexpressed feeling of awe.

“My Lord and my God!” for the Body, and I try and remember the prayer from my Grandfather’s St Joseph’s pocket missal for the Blood, something about “May this Blood cleanse me of my sins…” somebody help me out here…

“The consecrated species are thus shown to the congregation as a protest against the heretics who denied the Real Presence. Pius X granted an indulgence of seven years to all who, looking on them, said: ‘Dominus meus et Deus meus. My Lord and my God.’ To all such as do so daily he granted a plenary indulgence once a week provided they receive Holy Communion, subject to the usual conditions except the visit (Pius X, 1907; Pius XI, 1937) It is however forbidden to say this invocation aloud. (S.C.R., Nov. 6, 1925) //unquote

So, please, no congregational orations or exclamations at the sight of Our Lord’s Body and Blood at the consecration. Let us say to ourselves, “Dominus meus et Deus meus” and thank Almighty God for the crucified Christ on the cross and the eternal salvation that is offered by His sacrifice.

[So long as no one is under the impression that Jason’s 1937 is the necessary guideline for everyone’s comportment at Holy Mass. I don’t know how many times I have had people ask “But Father! But Father! Why didn’t say you that as it reads in my St. Joseph Missal?!?”]

I say, “Thy will be done. Thy will be done. Thy will be done.” at the elevations. That’s just a personal thing. An older, retired priest, suggested we say the following prayer upon receiving Communion: “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, thank you for coming to me today. Jesus, help me be a better Catholic.”

I have always said silently, “My Lord and my God!” at the Elevation of the Host, and, “My Jesus, mercy!” at the Elevation of the Precious Blood. This came from growing up in the 50’s and from missals that we used at the time (as someone else has mentioned). I used to (prior to the Novus Ordo) strike my breast once at each Elevation, but I generally don’t do that now. However, when the priest genuflects, I bow (to the extent that one can bow in the pew).

In the last five years or so, I have also taken to saying silently the prayer of the Angel of Fatima just before and between the Elevations, three times: “Most Holy Trinity, I adore You. My God, my God, I love you in the Most Blessed Sacrament!” Sometimes (not every time, though I always intend to) after the Elevation I say the prayer that I say during Adoration, another of the prayers of the Angel of Fatima, “I believe, I adore, I trust, and I love you, and I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, and do not love you.”

In OF or EF I prefer to keep my eyes closed until the Elevation of both the Host or the Chalice. During the Elevation I remain in silent adoration and re-affirm my belief in the Real Presence. I make a bow when the priest genuflects after replacing the Host or Chalice on the altar.

I normally say “My Lord and my God, Jesus Mary I love you, Save souls.”
while striking my chest as I noticed my Mother and Aunty doing it at mass so I do too.
At the parish in my home town after the elevation of the Host and Chalice a Maori Lady (Im in New Zealand) starts singing a maori verse and the congregation replies to it. I cringe every time

At the consecration of the Sacred Body I say, “My Lord and my God,” after which I pray, “Adoro te devote, latens Deitas, quae sub his figuris vere latitas: tibi se cor meum totum subiicit, quia te contemplans totum deficit.” At the Consecration of the Sacred Blood, I repeat, “My Lord and my God,” after which I pray the penultimate verse of Adoro Te Devote, “Lord Jesus, my Pelican Devout, one drop of Your Blood would surely wash away this world’s dark edifice.” I realize that this is a corrupt translation, but that is just the way I happened to memorize it, which is also why I say it in English.

Naturally, I often have to rush through these prayers, as the host/chalice is generally not elevated for very long.

I also put my missal aside when the first bell rings to announce that the Consecration is about to take place. I raise my head when the Host and Chalice are raised, in both instances saying, “My Lord and My God,” then bowing my head until the last bell before returning to the missal. I remember as a child striking my breast, but not many do that now. I also remember that there was a partial indulgence attached to saying those words. At one time (and I looked into my little old Fr. Stedman’s Sunday Missal) it was suggested to say at the elevation of the Chalice, “We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants, whom Thou has redeemed with Thy Precious Blood,” also with indulgence attached.

Without digging out my old Endichron of Indulgences, I recall several indulgences related to the elevation.

The chief ones being, “My Lord and My God” at a mass once weekly (presumably Sunday mass from the wording I recall) providing a plenary indulgence with the usual conditions, and “My Lord and My God” done daily for 30 days continuously at the elevation providing a partial indulgence.

As far as venerable traditions go, “My Lord and My God” is certainly a fine one with considerable graces associated.

In my parish we have the long-standing custom (since the 1950’s) of the entire congregation making, out loud, the acclamation “My Lord and my God” at both elevations, rather than doing it privately. I don’t know why the custom of doing this publicly arose, except that it may have been at the instigation of the pasor at the time.

This habit makes a bit of an impresion on people who’ve never seen it done before, and we’ve been told by several visiting priests that we’re known within the diocese for being the parish that does this.

I bow my head and strike my breast at the two genuflections (before and after elevations),and at the first elevation say “My Lord and My God,” while at the second I say “My Jesus,Mercy.” Just something my mom taught me, and I teach my children. We also make the Sign of the Cross at the elevation. I had a nun who taught my religion class ask why many of us did this part (the Sign of the Cross), and so had stopped for a while. But I started it again when I wanted to teach my children about this important part of the Mass,and I think it draws their attention directly to the altar more easily if they have some motions to do and words to say.

I say “My Lord and my God” three times at each elevation, what I always struggle with is Melchizedek, by the time I get past him, my mind seems to blank 9 times out of 10, I nearly always have to go back and make sure I haven’t forgotten him. Like a “spark from a blazing coal”, that is what I aim for, although I’ve a long way to go. Not much heat and very little light.

It depends on where I am. If I am in the choir area we have at my home parish, we dont have the ability to kneel due to a very cramped space, so I will bow very profoundly with a breast strike, echoing the words “My Lord and my God”, and “O Lord remember your servant that you have redeemed by Your Most Precious Blood”. I tend to pretty much stay in a bowed position whenever the eucharist is elevated, whether its during the Consecration, or after the Agnus Dei.

If I am kneeling, I will bow forward, while kneeling. I cant help it. I dont feel worthy enough to have my head up when my Lord and God is so eloquently and intimately displayed. Some might say, that’s silly, Jesus loves me more then that, that I should be able to stand proudly with him. But it is because of the love I have for Him, and knowing my own imperfections, and unworthiness, that compell me

Since my first communion, a long 54 years ago, I have always said “My Lord and my God” at the elevation both of the Host and of the Chalice, as my mother taught me. Within the past couple of years I have tended to add “Ave verum Corpus” at the elevation of the Host, and “Me immundus munda tuo sanguine” at that of the Chalice. Needless to say I kneel (or try to) even if there are no kneelers :-)!

What about the same action (striking breast thrice, saying “My Lord and My God”) after the consecration of the wine?

I learned how to act at the TLM mostly through an old “Child’s Daily Missal” (hey, it’s what they had at the used bookstore) from 1929, and it says to do this after both consecrations. So I do. But I don’t see anyone else doing it. I assume there’s nothing wrong with doing so?

While looking at the elevated host or chalice, I silently say to myself, “My Lord and my God”, and (unobtrusively)strike my chest 3 times. Then I close my eyes and look down. Have done this since a child.

For the Host I usually say “My Lord and My God” or “I love you Jesus”, or something similar then bow my head when the priest genuflects and for the Precious Blood I say three time “Blood and Water that gushed forth from the heart of Jesus, I trust in you” then bow my head again when the priest genuflects

My family has always been taught to strike our breasts three times. I recently also started saying “My Lord and my God”, based on a copy of “My Prayer Book” by Fr Lasance I inherited from my great-aunt. During the elevation of the Precious Blood, the same book mentions an indulgence for saying “Remember O Lord, Thy servant Thou hast redeemed by Thy Most Precious Blood.” I know the indulgences have changed since her day (the book was published in 1961, IIRC– it’s not to hand), but I think it’s a good thing to do in any event.

I raise my head at the elevation, then bow and say “My Lord and my God!” sotto voce. I then bow again when the priest genuflects. I’ve done this since my confirmation.
As for the indulgence, this is what my mother’s 1953 St. Andrew’s Missal says:

Let us look to the Body and the Blood of our Lord, which the priest successively presents for our adoration, saying each time secretly: “My Lord and my God” (ind. 7 years).

The old Benedictine prayer book that I have (c. 1891)
says that during the Consecration of the Host
and Chalice, you may strike your breast three
times and say: “Body of Christ, save me!” (Host)
and “Blood of Christ, wash me!” (Chalice). That is
what I do.

I look up at the Sacred Host at the elevation and pray “My Lord and my God, have mercy on me a sinner.” then with eyes downcast I beat my breast three times while saying “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.” I reapeat for the Precious Blood.

Sometimes after the initial elevation, I swear I hear a voice whisper “He’s here” and the hair on my neck stands up. Likely it is just my imagination, but sometimes I think (and hope) it is my guardian angel. I know, I’m a nut case. :)

If I’m praying in words, and often at this point I’m not, it’s “My Lord and My God”, silently, which I have been taught to do since childhood.

If I’m at an NO, then by the end of the Consecration of the Wine I’m alreadly trying to shut out the impending intrusive and totally unnecessary Acclamation, which more than anything in my opinion serves to undermine and banalise this most holy of moments.

During the consecration I keep my head bowed and my eyes looking down because if we could see what was truly happening on the altar we would be blinded by love. After the consecration (i currently attend the novus ordo which explains the following) I keep my head bowed and pray, this helps me in two ways, 1) I am speaking to my Lord, 2) it keeps my focus off all the busy bodies that think they have a “right” to be on the altar.

At the elevation of the host, I strike my breast three times and silently say, “My Lord and my God!” At the elevation of the chalice, again I strike my breast three times, praying silently, “Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Most Precious Blood!”

I cover my face from the beginning of the consecration (Lord, let your spirit come into these gifts…) until the Eucharistic acclamation. I never thought about praying during this time – I try to focus on the priest’s words and adopt an attitude of adoration of the Eucharist.

I, too, lift my eyes at the elevation and say “My Lord and My God”. Then I bow and pray the Divine Mercy prayer. It helps me not only in contemplating Our Lord present on the altar, but also the reality that His Mercy is poured out upon the whole world at that moment, everywhere Mass is being offered. Surely such an outpouring is moving souls – I remind the Lord that even a rock has some little chink through which grace can seep in; likewise, the most hardened soul can be affected by His grace. I try to pray for these souls especially at this time of the Mass.

Made my First Communion during VII, so I say internally “My Lord and My God!” and I used to strike my breast, but got out of the habit years ago.

Thought I’d throw in another thing the good Sisters trained us to do during Mass in those far-off days: we could NOT enter the church through the east-facing doors that led directly to the aisle and directly into the view of the priest. We might just plain distract him, OR let in sun glare that would dazzle him and he might drop the Sacrament.

That second option impressed us mightily. I still don’t enter church through center doors if I avoid it!

At the Consecration of the Host:
at the first genuflection I say “My Lord and my God”; at the elevation “Hail true Body born of Mary the Virgin”; at the second genuflection “my God and my All”

At the Consecration of the Precious Blood:
at the first genuflection I say “remember Lord thy creatures whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Precious Blood”; at the elevation “O Blood & Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of Mercy for us, I trust in Thee”

At the elevation of the Host, I say, “My Lord and my God.” Then I make an act of faith in the Real Presence. I look at the big, beautiful, new life-sized crucifix in the sanctuary (brick by brick!) to remind myself that that we are really at the foot of the Cross at this moment; and in my thoughts I say something along the lines of: “That crucifix only looks like You; but that little round Host really is You!”

At the elevation of the chalice, I recall the piercing of the Sacred Heart with the lance, and I say, “My Jesus, mercy!” Sometimes I imagine that the Blood is flowing from His side and the priest is catching it in the chalice.

We have Byzantine (small-t) tradition v. Slavic (small-t) tradition, then variations within each, which makes Roman Catholic visitors a bit uneasy because they’re used to everybody doing the same thing, and well, it just doesn’t work that way. Still, you will see most crossing themselves (or doing a metania, especially among Slavs) during the anaphora at the words of institution, at “Thine own of Thine own we offer Thee, on behalf of all, and for all,” at “the holy things are for the holy,” and on Saturdays or Sundays, a metania at the epiclesis, and a prostration on weekdays.

I bow each time the Sacred Species (both) are elevated, strike my breast and say “My Lord and My God”.

I suppose I was taught this as a child, or picked up the practice from my parents and grand-parents, but probably got out of the habit after the changes came in. However, for some time now, whether at OF or EF (usually able to attend EF each Sunday now), I have reinstated the practice. I find the action of striking the breast a powerful symbol and act of humility for me.

@JC – Fr. Mark Moretti! Such a good priest. I remember hearing the “I want to be your husband/wife” story many times while he was at my parish :-)

I always say “My Lord and My God” at the elevation of the host. At the elevation of the chalice I say the St. Gertrude prayer for souls in Purgatory: “Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.” I’m surprised no one else has mentioned that prayer here – supposedly it releases 1000 souls from Purgatory every time you pray it.

Good stuff by all! I began saying “My Lord and My God” at the consecration during RCIA after reading it in a missal. I will now say “Be mindful…” as well. I also say “May the body and blood of Our Savior Jesus Christ preserve my soul unto everlasting life” after receiving communion and then the Anima Christi when back in the pew.

My 3rd grade teacher, Sr. Joanne, taught me to say “My Lord and My God” at the elevation of the Host and “My Jesus, Mercy” at the elevation of the Precious Blood. Funny thing is, I’ve been doing that for 25 years and didn’t realize anyone else out there was doing it, too. She also taught me to stop and say a Hail Mary anytime I heard an ambulance siren, which I still do, too. How wonderful is Catholic schooling.

I usually rip off my outerwear exposing my hot pink leotard and dance on the pew while twirling long multi-colored ribbons above my head. I can never get the narrowminded Pharisees sitting around me to join in what is clearly a beautiful self-expression.

Well, actually, I just bow my head at the words of consecration and leave it so until the priest genuflects. But, one of these days I’m gonna do that first thing instead.

As I was taught sometime after my conversion to Catholicism nine years ago, at the elevation of the Host, I bow my head and strike my breast three times, saying silently, “My Lord and my God,” also three times. At the elevation of the Chalice, again I bow my head and strike my breast three times, saying silently, “Remember, O Lord, Thy creature whom Thou hast redeemed in Thy Most Precious Blood,” also three times. Before a fellow Catholic informed me of these traditional pious gestures, and would only bow my head low and offer silent praise and homage to my Lord present on the altar.

Whoops. Sorry, I only say “Remember, O Lord, Thy creature whom Thou hast redeemed in Thy Most Precious Blood” one time, while striking my breast three times. Garbled it with the gesture at the elevation of the Host.

I bow down low during the words of consecration, and at the elevation, I look at the sacred host, make the sign of the cross, and say “My Lord and my God, be thou merciful to me!”When the priest puts down the host, I bow low again till the elevation of the precious blood.
When that happens, I look at the chalice, make the sign of the cross and say “Thou hast redeemed us O lord. not with perishable things, but with thine own precious blood.” Then bow down again till the per ipsum.

Bow head for Consecration, look up and say silently “My Lord and My God during the elevation of the Host, bow head again; as before for the elevation of the chalice.
Kneel for both the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei. Strike breast three times during the latter.

I strike my breast and bow my head at the Elevation. It’s really only me and some of the older folk that do it. And I mean a lot older as the “older folk” now are the aging liberals. What’s interesting, though, is that my priest just mentioned at Mass on Sunday the tradition of saying “My Lord and My God” during the Elevation. I’ve always seen that as a somewhat older custom, as they definitely aren’t teaching that at RCIA in my parish anymore, so I was surprised to hear him say it.

Sadly my parish doesn’t use bells for anything, so I don’t get that unless I go to another church.

I am enjoying reading other peoples’ practices. I beat my breast at both elevations but at the first I state, “My Lord and my God!” as an act of adoration, and at the second I request, “Merciful Jesus, grant them eternal rest” as a prayer for the souls in Purgatory. I figure, that is a most excellent moment for a prayer for souls in purgatory.
Marie Siobhan

I make the sign on the cross three times on my chest and on my both palms and I pray: “My Lord and my God. I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You and I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You”. I also ask for the grace for final perseverance and the strong determination to become a saint. I do those for both when the priest elevates the Body and the Blood of Christ.

are you allowed to pray how you want in the OF mass? do you have to stand and kneel with everyone else. I really feel the need to kneel at the Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi… and the Sanctus. I think its unnatural to stand at these times. at the Agnus because we are addressing “Him” directly in his presence, and the Sanctus because doesnt it say in the bible that they “fall down”?

Interesting last comment regarding the wish to kneel at the Sanctus. I have often wondered why the NO delayed kneeling until AFTER the Sanctus had finished whereas we all naturally dropped to our knees at the first Sanctus before the changes.

At the elevation of the host I raise my eyes to look upon the body of Christ and say silently, “My Lord and my God,” and then make the sign of the cross as I bow my head. At the elevation of the chalice, I again raise my eyes and say silently, “O Lord be mindful of thy servant whom thou hast redeemed by thy precious blood,” and again make the sign of the cross as I bow my head.

During the elevation of the Host and then the chalice, I lightly strike
my breast and mouth “My Lord and my God”. Our pastor elevates both for about
30 seconds each, which gives me time to say part of the Divine Love Prayer, which
is also the prayer I recite on my way back to my pew from Communion. Sometimes,
I just borrow a line from St Therese and mouth “My God, I love You!”

I read a while ago of a medieval practice at the Elevation to cross oneself and then kiss either a particular picture (I think it was one of Christ on the Cross displaying the instruments of the Passion) or, in the absence of such a picture, one’s thumb. This was apparently promoted by means of an Indulgence.

The Indulgence and the practice are sadly probably no longer extant, but I liked the idea and still follow it.

At this time in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, I usually make the sign of the cross and pray silently “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Power and Might Heaven and Earth are Full of your Glory!” I think I got this from reading Revelation 4 and realizing that we are participating in the Heavenly Liturgy whenever we attend Mass.

When I first started attending the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, the priest said to me that the silence in the EF aids in the full participation of the Laity in the Mass because everyone enters into and prepares for the Mystery of the Liturgy of the Eucharist differently and the Church being the good Mother that she is respects such diversity in her Children.

I cross myself at the time the celebrant crosses over the gifts of bread and wine. I watch for the elevation and bow low to pray. “My Lord and My G-d, have mercy on me a poor sinner,” while striking my breast.

I say “My Lord and my God”, which I picked up from the Spanish masses at my parish; I find it interesting that it’s been maintained in the OF by the Hispanics but not the Anglos.

After that, at each consecration I pray:

Jesus, Lord, welcome thou be
in form of bread (wine) as I thee see.
Jesus for thy holy name,
shield us this day from sin and shame.
Shrift and housel grant me bo’
ere that I shall hence go.
And true contrition from my sin,
that I, Lord, never die therein.

I pray for myself at the elevation of the host, and for my goddaughter at the chalice. I think the prayer is a nice old English prayer I found in Duffy’s Stripping of the Altars.

I am often too lost in the moment to think of saying anything. Other times, to my shame, I am struggling to pray as I ought.

Sometimes I simply pray the Holy Name. Sometimes I become very aware of how it is that we are at Calvary with Our Lord, and the myriads of the heavenly host that are present with us, praying with us. And I have also prayed, “My Lord and my God!” I don’t have one particular practice that I use each time, however.

Sr. Gertrude taught us 33 years ago to bow our heads and say “My Lord and my God.” That is the only thing I was ever explicitly taught but I often pray other things as the Spirit moves me. It is interesting that although I have never discussed this with anyone, that my spontaneous prayers at that moment are often the same as the others posted here. Some other things I pray are “Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me; Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on Fr. _____ (the celebrant)”, or ” Eternal Father, I offer You the Body, Bood, Soul and Divinity or YOur dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

at the Elevation of the Host:”My Lord & my God, my sweet Jesus mercy!!”
at the Elevation of the Chalice: the prayer of St Gertrude the Great promised
by Our Lord to release 1000 souls from Purgatory when recited (“Eternal Father I offer
You the Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus…).
When Our Lord is presented to His people and the “Ecce Agnus Dei” is said by the priest, I offer a prayer for Father and recite an Act of Contrition. In this diocese, the congregation stands at the “Ecce Agnus Dei”–however I was taught by old-school Dominicans TO KNEEL and as such cannot bring myself to stand before Our Lord. I have noticed that some in the pews are starting to kneel as well(!!). Brick by brick indeed, Father Z.

I now also vary this utterance using the Latin formulary as well. From all the above comments this was a very common devotional practice before the Council (I wmade my FHC in 1963). These practices were common – another one which I never abandoned is the beating of one’s breast at the Agnus Dei and Domine Non Sum Dignus. The widespread absence of similar external acts at these moments in the liturgy amongst many under 40 years of age is a sure indicator of the impoverishment which leads, by degrees, to a lessening or even loss of Faith.

I say and have for said for many, many years ‘My Lord and My God’ I love thee, help me to love thee more, I believe, help my unbelief. When the ‘Cup’ is elvated, I have always said, ‘I beseech thee, therefore help thy servent, whom thou has redeemed with Thy precious blood’

My mother and grandmother taught me to make the sign of the cross and beat my breast three times at each elevation while saying “Jesus Dir leb’ ich; Jesus Dir sterb’ ich; Jesus Dein bin ich tod und lebendig. Amen.” Loosely translated: “Jesus I live for you, Jesus I die for you, Jesus I am yours in life and in death. Amen.” My grandmother also mentioned that she also prayed the “Mein Herr und mein Gott” which I have since also incorporated.

At the elevation of the Host, I strike my breast once and say ‘My Lord and my God’. At the elevation of the Chalice, I strike my breat once again and say, ‘Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, have mercy on us’.

For the Consecration of the Host, I say: “My Lord and My God.” For the Consecration of the Precious Blood, I say: “Vouchsafe, O Lord, to help thy servants; whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood”.

At the elevation of the Sacred Host I say: My Lord and my God.
At the elevation of the Sacred Chalice I say: My Jesus mercy.
This was an instruction by the Sisters of St. Lucy Fillipini (MPF) when I was a very young child and I say the acclamations to myself to this day.

I wrote a book for childen called “The Forgotten Angel” (The Angel at Fatima) and ever since I could not get the prayer the angel taught the children out of my head. I say it during both elevations; I BELIEVE, I ADORE, I TRUST AND I LOVE YOU AND I MAKE REPERATION FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE, WHO DO NOT ADORE AND WHO DO NOT TRUST YOU”.

43 years ago, when being prepared for First Communion, the nuns taught us to look at the host/chalice then bow our heads and strike the breast at each elevation. The canon was still in Latin at that stage, and as far as I recall was silent. They didn\’t teach us to say any actual prayer or ejaculation. I remember that some kids i.e. me, would forget to raise their heads and keep them bowed until a gentle tap was administered by a parent – or a not-so-gentle one by an older sibling :)

I would still instinctively strike the breast but but as Tony from Oz comments I have noticed that most people younger than me don\’t, so it obviously stopped being taught in the schools.

While at a Mass some years ago I heard a lady behind me praying the Divine Mercy prayer \”O blood and water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus…\” She was saying it in a low voice but as it was an early Mass with not many present I could hear her. I thought it was very appropriate and have used it myself, when I remember.

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“And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: What would things have been like if every Security operative, when he went out at night to make an arrest, had been uncertain whether he would return alive and had to say good-bye to his family? Or if, during periods of mass arrests, as for example in Leningrad, when they arrested a quarter of the entire city, people had not simply sat there in their lairs, paling with terror at every bang of the downstairs door and at every step on the staircase, but had understood they had nothing left to lose and had boldly set up in the downstairs hall an ambush of half a dozen people with axes, hammers, pokers, or whatever else was at hand?... The Organs would very quickly have suffered a shortage of officers and transport and, notwithstanding all of Stalin's thirst, the cursed machine would have ground to a halt! If...if...We didn't love freedom enough. And even more – we had no awareness of the real situation.... We purely and simply deserved everything that happened afterward.”

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“Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites. . . . Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.”

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